Thoughts after 2 months of ownership

[Fentible]

Just finished a 1000 mile trip around Scotland, my first big trip on the Tiger since purchase in August of this year.
Just prior to leaving, as mileage was at 12.5K, I completed the 12k service and found that all of the exhaust valve's were well within spec, whilst the inlet were all at 0.10/0.11mm. I will re-check at 18K.

When reconnecting the fuel lines the upper tank connector started leaking, despite new seals. I replaced all the fittings with metal ones and despite careful handling of the plastic connectors in the tank plate, both sheared and I had to pick the plastic threads out. Both my T595 and T509 fittings came out no bother.

I replaced the plugs with Iridium ones, K+N filter, Mahle KL145 fuel filter, HF190 Hi-Flo filter and Motul 10-40 fully synthetic. I also fitted the TOR silencer that came with the bike and loaded the ECU map to the 10121 custom one from the Tune ECU library. I also removed the Lamda sensor, fitted an exhaust blanking plug and purchased an eliminator to plug into the now empty loom socket. I know guys have bought resistors for pennies but I'm not really confident with electrics and at £12 the eliminator wasn't going to break the bank.


Other mods were an MRA Vario touring screen (a godsend), Fehling crash bars, Scottoiler and a carbon effect hugger. I also bought a carbon effect bellypan but it won't fit with the crash bars without some modification. A couple of other minor mods were a replacement R/H switch unit from an ST sprint which has a headlight on/off switch and addition of 2 x relays so both headlights are on in both dip and main beam mode.

The Tiger performed faultlessly throughout the trip and in 985 miles used 17.83 gallons of fuel, which according to my calculator equates to 55mpg on a mix of slow single track, fast A roads and motorway sprints. This with luggage but no passenger and I weigh in at 85 K. The MRA Vario screen eliminated any buffeting I had been experiencing and my only problem was the footrests feeling a tad high for my 6' frame. I didn't find the gearchange particularly bad but it was notchy and occasionally it took a bit of effort to get it from 4th to 5th. My previous tourer was a BMW K100 with silky smooth gearchanges and in fairness the Tiger gearchange is very similar to my T509.

On the whole I am delighted with the bike, its smooth, comfortable (footrest issue aside), I love the torquey engine and it handles as well as I need it too, the current tyres Metzler Tourance seem okay and were relatively new when I got the bike. Here are a few 'on tour ' shots

 

[motoOzarks]

That's ride report material right there

enjoy

[iansoady]

Looks lovely.

I fitted Buell footrests to my Tiger - dropped them about 20mm and put them back about the same. I may have a pic somewhere.....

Here:



They come in a silver finish - I applied the satin black.

And here:



ISTR I needed to make a thin bush as the pivot hole was imperial (9/16"?) rather than the metric Triumph dimension.

[Fentible]

Thanks for the tip on the footrests Iansoady. Spotted some Vario ones which fit the existing footpeg bracket and provide 30mm of adjustment. That should do it just nicely.

Something else I hadn't commented on but the tool kit............what's its purpose, decoration??  I couldn't even get the side panel off to adjust my scottoiler flow rate. I will be addressing that for future trips.

[Sin_Tiger]

  glad you got great weather for the Applecross road.

[motoOzarks]

http://www.knlcycle.com/

There's only one foot peg(s) for a tiger

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/triumph-tiger-off-road-foot-pegs.660374/

[Dyn Blin]

http://www.knlcycle.com/

There's only one foot peg(s) for a tiger

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/triumph-tiger-off-road-foot-pegs.660374/

Indeed a very robust platform that moves the pegs down a bit for welcome relief for (old?) tired legs and hips.  They look good too.  *and* he makes an excellent valve adjustment tool.

[KuzzinKenny]

Hey Fentible !! Glad to hear yer gettin on ok with yer Tigger 

+1 on the Mustang pegs 

also have ya checked yer seats not on the lower setting ??

nice pics BTW

KK

[Fentible]

Thanks for the heads up on the Mustang pegs, unfortunately I'd already pressed the 'buy it now' on the Vario ones. I should have waited a bit as Kuzzinkenny's advice would also have been useful. I had forgotten the seat was adjustable and yes it was on the lowest setting.

Sin_Tiger, couldn't have had a better day for the pass, hardly any traffic and fantastic views. I can also highly recommend the carrot cake at the Applecross Inn.

[motoOzarks]

Carrots eat carrots, can't trust'em